Tag Archives: Yankees

The 2011 postseason began today but something’s different this year. One of the most exciting times in baseball all of a sudden seems like it’s just another day. Could it be that I still haven’t recovered from the postseason play of 2010?

The media had been inundated with the 2010 San Francisco Giants Cinderella story. It was magic. But the stories of late haven’t been so much about the magic of last season as it is about the everyday mundane normalcy of this season. How could this happen or more-so why did it have to happen? I have a theory.

Historically the World Series champion has only won back-to-back championships on three separate occasions with exception of the Yankees. They don’t count. The returning 2011 Giants were basically the same team that won the 2010 World Series. That 2010 team played their heart out. When they realized in August they had a shot at the division title they went for it. They scratched and clawed and mowed down everything in sight and they won. And then they won again and again and they won the Pennant. Then they won again and again and again and they won the Championship. And then they returned to the adoration of a million fans screaming their hearts out in appreciation of what they had done. After it was all over in mid-November, they went back to their individual homes across the country and they collapsed. They were exhausted. They rested for 6 weeks and then they started all over again. And they were still exhausted.

And I believe that’s how it is for World Series Champions historically. I understand all of this because, you know, I was exhausted too. As fans we went through all of those torturous games with our teammates and we laughed and cried and shared the joy of the entire experience with each and every one of them and we were tired, worn out, and exhausted too.

I’ve been reading a lot of gibberish this week about the fall of the San Francisco Giants kingdom and it’s just that. Gibberish. It seems everyone’s placing blame somewhere, on someone, and it’s getting really personal, you know, about individual players. They’re paid too much, not paid enough, too slow, too fat, too lazy. Ugghhh!

The 2010 Giants were not an extraordinary team. They were an okay, average team with a really good pitching staff. The reason they won their division had more to do with the San Diego Padres choking than it did with the Giants winning. But they did win and found themselves in the post season and we were thrilled.

But now its over and its okay. I’ve written comments throughout this season exclaiming my euphoric state and happiness that the Giants were World Champions and if they never ended up in post season play again, ever, I could easily rest on my (well okay, “their”) laurels. It was that good.

And I think maybe the San Francisco Giants may have felt a little of that too as they began spring training, not really sure what had happened that previous season, and not really wanting it to end, still in a euphoric state of mind, just needing and subconsciously taking a little break.

At least that’s what I think probably happened and that’s how I’m going to always remember it and its cool ~ the San Francisco Giants just taking a little break in 2011.

Josh Hamilton was named MVP of the American League Championship Series as his Texas Rangers whooped the New York Yankees into submission yesterday and grabbed the AL Pennant for the first time in their long history. When he was asked about the award you couldn’t help but be impressed. Here’s what he had to say:

“I love my teammates. I love them so much. Any of these guys could have gotten this award. I’m happy to have them. At the same time , I don’t want to talk about myself, I want to talk about them! WE are the reason we’re here. The chemistry on the team is something like I’ve never known anywhere. All the guys love each other and we support each other.”

Texas Rangers on winning the ALCS

Manager Ron Washington said basically the same thing, acknowledging this was the best group of players he’s ever worked with. The Texas Rangers chemistry among each other seems to be contagious. Most would agree that the players on any team have to get along with each other, maybe not “like” each other but for sure they have to get along. Sometimes that promotes a winning team and sometimes not, but for sure these guys seem to really and truly “like” each other. This is evident in all the clubhouse interviews, on the field rapport, and articles written throughout this year. I don’t know very much about the Texas Rangers, but I have to be honest here, you can’t help but like these guys, each and every one of them!

Josh Hamilton, MVP

I decided not to write about all the great plays and statistics from this series. They were impressive and you can read all about them in the “Related Articles” below. But if you read my earlier blog about the Yankees and their tea party mentality, you gotta love these guys. This is the first time in their history they’ve won a Pennant and it does my heart good to see a bunch of guys whooping and hollering and jumping around like they really, really appreciate being here. Whatta series and what an accomplishment! Great win for the Texas Rangers. They deserve it!

"The best possible thing in baseball is winning the World Series. The second best thing is losing the World Series." - Tommy Lasorda

"You teach me baseball and I’ll teach you relativity.... You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball." - Albert Einstein

"Baseball is a game of race, creed, and color. The race is to first base. The creed is the rules of the game. The color? Well, the home team wears white uniforms, and the visiting team wears gray."
Joe Garagiola

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DISCLAIMER

GARLICFRIESANDBASEBALL is written by a long-time fan who simply loves the game. I write my own articles (hence the grammar and occasional misspellings). If I include an article from another source, credit is given to that source and will include links when appropriate. The opinions are my own.